WO2021145421A1

WO2021145421A1 - Information communication terminal device and method for controlling display in said device

Info

Publication number: WO2021145421A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/001228
Authority: WO
Inventors: 孝通三橋; 俊英林; 剛太岩浪
Original assignee: 株式会社インフォシティ
Priority date: 2020-01-16
Filing date: 2021-01-15
Publication date: 2021-07-22
Also published as: JP2022027820A; JP2021114667A; KR20220110574A; JP6994204B2; US20230345081A1

Abstract

The present invention is an information communication terminal device compatible with IPTV services, comprising a selection means for selecting a channel number, an acquisition means for acquiring program data from a delivery server in accordance with link information associated with the selected channel number, and a display control means for exercising control to display program content on a screen on the basis of the program data. The selection means responds to a first operation of a user and determines a first channel number to which to be switched. The acquisition means acquires first program data from the delivery server in accordance with the link information associated with the current channel number. Meanwhile, the acquisition means responds to a second operation that follows the first operation and starts acquiring second program data in accordance with the link information associated with the first channel number to which to be switched. The display control means exercises control so as to display the first program content and second program content on a screen. Thus, when channels are switched, program content of the channel to which switched can be immediately displayed.

Description

Information and communication terminal device and display control method in the device

The present invention relates to an information communication terminal device and a display control method in the device, and more particularly to an information communication terminal device capable of viewing program contents provided via a communication network and a display control method in the device.

Conventionally, a television broadcasting service in which a viewer receives a broadcast of program content from a broadcasting station with a terminal device such as a television receiver, a set-top box, or a smartphone with a built-in receiving tuner and views the program content. It is well established in the world. In recent years, an IPTV service (“IPTV service” in which a viewer views program content streamed or distributed from an Internet service provider (ISP) or content delivery network (CDN) provider via a communication network such as an IP network on a terminal device. (Sometimes referred to as "Internet broadcasting service") is becoming widespread. As such IPTV services, services such as IP broadcasting and IP retransmission are known. The IP broadcasting service is a service that allows you to watch program contents of various channels using a communication network based on the channel concept in which programs are organized along the time axis like conventional television services. .. Similarly, the IP retransmission service is a service that enables the use of existing terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, CS digital broadcasting, etc. using a communication network. With such an IPTV service, even in places where it is difficult to receive radio waves such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting can be performed by connecting a viewing terminal device (with or without a tuner) to the Internet instead of an antenna. You can use the same services as.

In such an IPTV service, typically, the video / audio data related to the program content and the related information are distributed to the viewer using different distribution schemes. That is, while video / audio data is distributed using RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) based on IP multicast technology, related information is often distributed using HTTP. For this reason, the IPTV service requires a technique for displaying video / audio data and related information at a desired timing in a viewer's terminal device as program content.

For example, Patent Document 1 below synchronizes data such as subtitles transmitted separately from video content data with video content data in a broadcast retransmission service that retransmits conventional television broadcasting using a communication network. It discloses a reproduction technology for reproduction.

By the way, in terrestrial digital broadcasting, the viewable range (that is, the broadcasting area or broadcasting area) is roughly determined by the reachable distance of the broadcasting wave output from the radio tower, and the broadcasting can be selected according to the viewer's place of residence or current location. The station (channel) has been decided. The viewer currently registers in advance the broadcasting stations that can be selected by inputting the postal code, address, etc. into the television receiver and registering the settings. Therefore, when a viewer uses an IP retransmission service corresponding to terrestrial digital broadcasting using a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, the terminal device recognizes a broadcasting station whose broadcasting area is the viewer's current location. There is a need to.

The following Patent Document 2 limits the IP-type broadcast output from the broadcast receiver to the IP-type broadcast of a broadcasting station whose broadcasting area is the current location of the broadcast receiver, and allows the user of the broadcast receiver to perform a plurality of IP-type broadcasts. We will disclose a technology that enables selection of a desired IP-type broadcast from among the above.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-188910 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-049896

While pursuing IPTV services to become services equivalent to terrestrial digital broadcasting, the viewing style of viewers (users) has changed from the conventional stationary television receivers to mobile ones such as smartphones. It is expected that the company will shift to information and communication terminal devices. However, at present, no easy-to-use information communication terminal device considering the IPTV service has been proposed.

In conventional terrestrial digital broadcasting, viewers (users) use a remote controller (generally called a "remote control") attached to the television receiver to switch the program (channel) being viewed on the screen of the television receiver. The number buttons corresponding to the channel numbers (channel codes) of) are selected, or the channel numbers are selected in order by pressing the channel buttons. When a new channel is selected, the television receiver receives the broadcast wave signal by adjusting the frequency of the tuner to the frequency corresponding to that channel, descrambles it with a decoder, and further, video and audio. Converts to a signal and displays the program content of the selected channel number on the screen.

However, since the conventional television receiver has a configuration in which one tuner is assigned to one selected channel (for example, a television receiver having a plurality of tuners for recording all programs). However, it takes about 0.5 to 1 second to display the program content on the screen based on the broadcast wave signal of the channel to be switched to (1 program, 1 tuner). That is, according to the conventional standards such as terrestrial digital broadcasting, in order to reproduce or restore a video for viewing, a television receiver outputs a signal (stream signal) conveyed according to a time axis only in a predetermined time unit. There was an inconvenience that the program content had to be received and was not displayed immediately. For this reason, conventional television receivers pass the time from channel switching to video playback, for example, the full screen is displayed in black (no display), or the channel number, program name, etc. are displayed on the screen. I was letting you. The state of the screen display at the time of such channel switching is shared with the recognition that such a state is natural even though the viewer is actually stressed, and it has been shared for many years. During that time, nothing was resolved.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information communication terminal device capable of displaying a screen at the time of selecting or switching a channel having a new concept completely different from that of conventional television broadcasting, and a display control method in the device. do.

That is, one of the objects of the present invention is an information communication terminal device and an information communication terminal device that eliminates the inconvenience that the program content of the channel to be switched is not immediately displayed on the screen when the channel being viewed by the user is selected or switched. It is to provide a display control method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information communication terminal device for smoothly or continuously switching the screen from the program content currently being viewed to the program content to be switched to, and a display control method in the device. It is to be.

The present invention for solving the above problems is configured to include the following invention-specific matters or technical features.

The present invention according to a certain viewpoint is an information communication terminal device suitable for an IPTV service that distributes program data from any distribution server via a communication network. The information communication terminal device is a specific distribution server according to a channel selection means for selecting a channel number according to a channel allocation defining a channel allocation corresponding to a broadcasting area and link information associated with the selected channel number. The program content is displayed on the screen based on the acquisition means for requesting the distribution of the program data to the user and acquiring the program data distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request and the received program data. It may be provided with a display control means for controlling so as to be performed. The channel selection means determines the channel number of the first switching destination according to the channel allocation in response to the user's first operation on the screen. Further, the program data acquisition means acquires the first program data distributed from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the current channel number, while following the first operation on the screen. In response to the operation of 2, the reception and acquisition of the second program data distributed from the specific distribution server is started according to the link information associated with the determined first switching destination channel number. Then, the display control means controls so that the first program content based on the first program data and the second program content based on the second program data are displayed on the screen. I do.

The first operation may be a touch operation or a tap operation on the screen by the user, and the second operation may be an operation accompanied by a movement in a predetermined direction in the screen. Further, the second operation may be at least one of a swipe operation, a flick operation, and a scroll operation on the screen.

The display control means can control so that the switching from the first program content to the second program content is smoothly displayed on the screen according to the movement in the second operation.

Further, the display control means can switch from the first program content to the second program content on the screen by scrolling the screen in the predetermined direction.

When the first operation is a multi-touch operation on the screen, the channel selection means is different from the channel number of the first switching destination according to the channel allocation in response to the multi-touch operation. The channel number of the switching destination of 2 can be determined.

The program data acquisition means responds to the second operation following the multi-touch operation on the screen, and according to the link information associated with the determined channel number of the second switching destination, the third program It is possible to request the distribution of data and start the acquisition of the third program data distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request. In this case, the display control means is based on the first program content based on the first program data and the third program data on the screen in accordance with the reception of the third program data. Control can be performed so that the third program content is displayed.

It may be a display control method in an information communication terminal device suitable for an IPTV service that distributes program data from any distribution server via a communication network. The method selects a channel number according to a channel allocation that defines a channel allocation corresponding to a broadcast area, and distributes program data to a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the selected channel number. To request, to acquire the program data distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request, and to display the program content on the screen based on the acquired program data. It may include performing display control. Selecting the channel number includes determining the channel number of the first switching destination according to the channel allocation in response to the user's first operation on the screen. Further, to acquire the program data, the first program data distributed from a specific distribution server is acquired according to the link information associated with the current channel number, while the first operation on the screen is performed. In response to the subsequent second operation, it includes acquiring the second program data distributed from the specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the determined first switching destination channel number. Then, by performing the display control, the first program content based on the first program data and the second program content based on the second program data are displayed on the screen. Includes control over.

Furthermore, according to another aspect, the present invention provides a computer program and a computer program for realizing the above-mentioned method for causing a computing device to display program contents based on program data distributed from any distribution server via a communication network. It can be a recording medium on which the program is recorded non-temporarily.

In the present disclosure, the "means" does not simply mean a physical means, but also includes a case where the function of the means is realized by software. Further, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the function of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

Further, in the present disclosure, the "system" includes a device in which a plurality of devices (or functional modules that realize a specific function) are logically assembled, and each device or functional module is physically a single device. It does not matter whether it is composed or as a separate object.

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to provide a screen display at the time of selecting or switching a channel with a new idea completely different from the conventional television broadcasting.

For example, according to the present invention, when the channel being viewed by the user is selected or switched, the program content of the channel to be switched to is immediately displayed on the screen, and the so-called non-display state can be avoided.

Other technical features, objectives, effects or advantages of the present invention will be clarified by the following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure for demonstrating the scheme of the IPTV service which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the information communication terminal apparatus adapted to the IPTV service system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating an example of the storage contents of the memory module of the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the functional configuration of the information communication terminal apparatus adapted to the IPTV service system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the channel allocation information in the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the channel switching process in the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation with respect to the screen displayed on the user interface of the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the prefetch processing of the program data in the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the channel icon in the screen displayed on the user interface of the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the display processing of the program data in the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation with respect to the screen displayed on the user interface of the information communication terminal apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware configuration of the distribution server in the distribution company system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and there is no intention of excluding the application of various modifications and techniques not specified below. The present invention can be implemented with various modifications (for example, combining each embodiment) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, in the description of the following drawings, the same or similar parts are represented by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily match the actual dimensions and ratios. Even between drawings, parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios may be included.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for schematically explaining the overall scheme of the IPTV service system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present disclosure, the IPTV service refers to a broadcasting service in which program contents are streamed or distributed to viewers (users) via an IP (Internet Protocol) -based network, and is a conventional broadcasting service using broadcast waves. For example, it is distinguished from terrestrial digital broadcasting services). The terms "transmission" and "delivery" here may be synonymous, and the terms "transmission" and "transfer" are not excluded. At the time of filing the application of the present application, services such as IP broadcasting and IP redistribution are known as IPTV services. In the present disclosure, the IPTV service system 1 is a system that realizes a broadcasting service in which program contents are transmitted or distributed from a broadcasting station side to a viewer side via an IP-based network. The program content refers to a "program" that is organized along the time axis and is viewed by the viewer, and may include information related to the program such as so-called subtitle data and data broadcasting data. Program content is composed of, for example, digital data packages or data streams such as video, images, characters and / or audio. The data stream related to the program content is composed of, for example, the "H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC" format, which is a high compression coding technology. In the present disclosure, the data stream related to the program content may be referred to as "program data stream" or simply "program data".

As shown in the figure, the communication network 10 may include an IP-based computer network (hereinafter referred to as “IP network”) 12, a mobile communication network 14 conforming to the mobile communication system standard, and the like. The communication network 10 may include a form of content delivery network (CDN). In the present disclosure, the communication network 10 is used in a broad concept including the Internet constructed by an IP network, but the purpose is to exclude not only the IP network but also a network of other protocols that enable distribution of program data. is not it. Further, the communication network 10 may include a wireless network (for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) constructed by a wireless base station or a wireless access point (not shown). The IP network 12 and the mobile communication network 14 are connected via, for example, a gateway 16, but are not limited to this.

The broadcaster system 20 may be configured to include broadcasting equipment for performing television broadcasting and radio broadcasting. The broadcaster system 20 is managed and operated by, for example, a broadcaster (for example, a broadcasting station) to which a broadcasting license has been granted, but is not limited thereto. Although not shown, the broadcaster system 20 provides, for example, a broadcasting service (for example, terrestrial digital broadcasting) of program contents stored in a transmission server under the control of an automatic operation device. That is, the broadcaster system 20 transmits program data according to the program organization along the time axis. For example, the program data is emitted as a broadcast wave from the radio tower toward the broadcast target area. Further, the program data may be transmitted to the distribution company system 30 via, for example, a dedicated line 18.

The program content in the present disclosure may be the same as the broadcast program content provided by the conventional broadcast service, or may be, for example, additional content added to the broadcast program content. Alternatively, the program content may be different from the broadcast program content.

The distribution company system 30 may be configured to include a distribution server that distributes program data provided by a broadcasting company, a production company, or the like to viewers via a communication network 10. The hardware configuration of the distribution server is shown, for example, in FIG. 12, but since such a configuration is known, the details thereof will be omitted. The distribution company system 30 is managed and operated by, for example, a content distribution company (CDN provider), an Internet provider (ISP), or the like, but is not limited thereto. A plurality of distribution company systems 30 may be installed, and one distribution company system 30 may include a plurality of distribution servers. The program data is provided to the distributor system 30 via, for example, a broadcast wave emitted from a radio tower or a dedicated line. The distribution operator system 30 temporarily stores the provided program data in the distribution server in preparation for the distribution timing, and according to the program organization, for example, using RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) based on IP multicast technology, It can be streamed to the viewer's information communication terminal device 40. The program data may be streamed to the information communication terminal device 40 using HTTP long polling or another transmission protocol. In addition, the distribution company system 30 distributes data and other information (for example, channel allocation information, EPG information, etc.) related to a part of the program content (for example, program-related information) to the information communication terminal device 40 of the viewer. obtain. Typically, the distributor system 30 scrambles and distributes various data including program data and the like.

In this disclosure, the broadcaster system 20 and the distributor system 30 are configured as separate systems, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the broadcaster system 20 is the distributor system 30. It may be configured to include functions and vice versa. Further, the distribution company system 30 may be managed and operated by a broadcasting company.

The information communication terminal device 40 is a computing device operated by a user who is a viewer who watches a program, and corresponds to, for example, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a feature phone, and other intelligent devices. However, it is not limited to these. In this example, the information communication terminal device 40 is assumed to be a smartphone capable of interactive operation by a touch panel or a touch screen, and is configured as a viewing terminal device suitable for viewing program contents in an IPTV service as described below. Will be done.

That is, the information communication terminal device 40 may be configured to include a CPU (processor), a chipset and a memory, a communication module, a hardware resource such as a user interface, and an operating system (for example, a kernel, various device drivers, a standard library, and the like. ) (Hereinafter referred to as "OS"). The information communication terminal device 40 executes various application programs on the OS under the control of the processor to realize desired functions. In the present disclosure, the information communication terminal device 40 is, for example, a command group or a module for causing the information communication terminal device 40 to function as a viewer (so-called viewing terminal device) capable of viewing a program in an IPTV service as one of application programs. An IPTV viewing program including the above can be implemented. Alternatively, the information communication terminal device 40 may be configured to implement the browser program as one of the application programs and to realize the above functions by the add-on program of the browser realized by the browser program.

The information communication terminal device 40 equipped with the IPTV viewing program receives and receives video / audio data (that is, program data) related to the main program content streamed from the distributor system 30 according to, for example, RTSP. The video of the program based on the program data is displayed in real time in a predetermined display area of the screen as a user interface, and audio (voice, music, sound effect, etc.) synchronized with the video based on the program data is output. The information communication terminal device 40 displays sub-program contents distributed from the distributor system 30 in accordance with, for example, HTTP long polling, superimposed on the main program contents, or serves as a display area of the main program contents. Is displayed in another display area. The sub-program content may be interlocking content (complementary or related content) of the main program content, or non-interlocking content (independent content).

Further, the information communication terminal device 40 of the present embodiment transmits a distribution request for channel allocation information to the distribution company system 30, and acquires predetermined channel allocation information to be distributed in response to the request. This is stored in a predetermined storage area. Channel allocation information can also be delivered according to, for example, HTTP long polling, but is not limited to this. For example, the information communication terminal device 40 superimposes a channel icon or an object on the screen according to the stored channel allocation information in response to a user operation.

The information communication terminal device 40 may be a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone in this example, but is a computing device capable of input operation by a pointing device such as a mouse or a touch pad instead of a touch panel. There may be.

In the IPTV service system 1 as described above, the user performs a channel switching operation via the user interface while viewing the program content of the selected channel on the screen of the information communication terminal device 40. Upon the start of the channel switching operation, the information / communication terminal device 40 transmits a distribution request for program data associated with at least one channel presumed to be the switching destination to the distribution company system 30. , Starts receiving program data that is presumed to be the switching destination. At this time, the information communication terminal device 40 also receives the program data associated with the channel currently being viewed (the channel of the switching source) in parallel. The information communication terminal device 40 simultaneously displays each of the program contents based on the received program data on the screen of the user interface in real time until the channel switching operation is deterministically performed.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the IPTV service system 1 may include an authentication server for authenticating a user (viewer) and / or an information communication terminal device 40 when providing an IPTV service. ..

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an information communication terminal device adapted to the IPTV service system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, among various hardware resources constituting the information communication terminal device 40, those particularly related to the present disclosure are shown.

That is, as shown in the figure, the information communication terminal device 40 typically includes one or more processor modules 41, a chipset 42, a memory module 43, an I / O controller 44, and various types. It may be configured to include a peripheral interface 45 and various input / output devices 46. Further, the information communication terminal device 40 of this example includes a GPS module 47. Although not shown, the information communication terminal device 40 may include a call unit that realizes a call function. For example, the information communication terminal device 40 may accept voice input from the user via the telephone unit.

The processor module 41 includes, but is not limited to, for example, a processor (processor core), a microcontroller, a digital signal processor and / or a combination thereof. The chipset 42 includes a bridge to a bus connecting a processor module 41, a memory module 43, an I / O controller 44, and the like, and a circuit in which other components necessary for configuring the information communication terminal device 40 are integrated. The chipset 42 is controlled by, for example, the processor module 41.

The memory module 43 is typically a primary storage device composed of a volatile memory (for example, RAM), a non-volatile memory (for example, ROM, flash memory, etc.) and / or a combination thereof. The memory module 43 typically holds all or part of a device driver, an operating system (OS) program, one or more application programs, data, etc., as shown in FIG. 3, and is a processor module 41. Used for use. In this embodiment, the application program includes an IPTV viewing program executed on the information communication terminal 130. The data includes, for example, channel allocation information, set area names, and the like. The IPTV viewing program may be stored in the memory module 43 in advance at the time of shipment of the information communication terminal device 40, or may be downloaded from a predetermined server computer on the communication network 10 using the communication interface 45b to obtain the memory module. It may be stored in 43. The IPTV viewing program of the present disclosure parallels the program data of the current channel and the program data of the channel presumed to be the switching destination until the channel switching operation by the user is deterministically performed via the user interface. It is configured to include a function of receiving each of the programs and displaying the program contents on the screen of the user interface. The data includes, for example, channel allocation information, EPG information, set area names, and the like. The IPTV viewing program may be stored in the memory module 43 in advance at the time of shipment of the information communication terminal device 40, or may be downloaded from a predetermined server computer on the communication network 10 using the communication interface 45b to obtain the memory module. It may be stored in 43.

The I / O controller 44 is a circuit that controls communication with various peripheral interfaces 45 (for example, I / O interface 451 and communication interface 452). The I / O interface 451 controls the operation of external input / output devices such as the touch panel 461 and the speaker 462 that make up the user interface, for example. The I / O interface 451 also includes, for example, a serial controller or a parallel controller, which can control the operation of external storage devices, other peripheral devices, and the like. The communication interface 452 is a circuit that enables computer communication via the IP network 12. In the present disclosure, the communication interface 452 is mainly used for communication (for example, streaming distribution) with the distribution operator system 30 via the IP network 12.

The touch panel 461 includes a display for displaying program contents composed of images, characters, and images, and a transparent touch sensor formed so as to substantially match the size of the display. The touch panel 461 is an example of a device that realizes a user interface. Under the control of the processor module 41, the touch panel 461 displays various screens on the display and accepts interactive operations from the user. In the present disclosure, the touch panel 461 provides the user with a screen related to the program content under the control of the processor module 41, and accepts interactive operations by the user, such as touch operation and swipe operation. The operation on the touch panel 461 may be performed by the user's finger, or may be performed by a touch pen or the like. An operation button (not shown) may be provided in place of the user operation by the touch panel 461 or in order to supplement the operation. Instead of the touch panel 461, a pointing device such as a normal display and a mouse may be adopted.

The speaker 462 outputs audio or sound based on an audio signal generated by a sound processor (not shown). Under the control of the processor module 41, the speaker 462 outputs, for example, audio, music, sound effects, and the like synchronized with the video in the received program content.

The GPS module 47 is a circuit that demodulates the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna 471 into a baseband signal. The information communication terminal device 40 can acquire position information by processing a digital signal corresponding to a GPS signal by the processor module 41. The acquired location information is used, for example, to identify a broadcasting area that covers the user's current location.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information communication terminal device adapted to the IPTV service system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, among various components of the information communication terminal device 40, those particularly related to the present disclosure are shown. Such components cooperate with various hardware resources by the above-mentioned hardware resources themselves or a part thereof, or by, for example, the processor of the information communication terminal device 40 executing an application program on the OS. Can be realized.

As shown in the figure, the information communication terminal device 40 of the present embodiment includes a storage unit 4100, a program viewing processing unit 4200, an I / O control unit 4300, a user interface unit 4400, and a communication interface unit 4500. It is configured to include.

The storage unit 4100 stores channel allocation information, and stores one or more area names for identifying each broadcasting area that the user wants to view according to the channel allocation information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of channel allocation information in the information communication terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The channel allocation information is a table that defines the channel allocation (channel allocation) of the broadcasting area divided by the reach of the broadcasting wave. The channel allocation information of the present embodiment includes network location information (for example, URL, etc.) of the distribution server of the distribution company system 30 corresponding to each broadcasting area. The channel allocation information is acquired from, for example, a server computer such as a broadcaster system 20 and / or a distributor system 30. For example, in the case of terrestrial digital broadcasting, the area name is the name of the broadcasting area such as "Sapporo", "Tokyo" (for example, the area based on Tokyo Sky Tree), and "Kagoshima". The area name is set by the area setting unit 4210 and stored in the storage unit 4100, for example, through an interactive operation of the user. In addition, the storage unit 4100 can store EPG information. The EPG information is configured to include program organization information for each broadcaster along the time axis. Further, the storage unit 4100 may provide a cache function for temporarily storing the program data acquired by the program data acquisition unit 4240.

Returning to FIG. 4, the program viewing processing unit 4200 performs processing for enabling viewing of the program content by the IPTV service under the control of the processor. The program viewing processing unit 4200 includes, for example, a region setting unit 4210, a channel allocation specifying unit 4220, a channel selection unit 4230, a program data acquisition unit 4240, and a decoding unit 4250.

The area setting unit 4210 sets the selected area name stored in the storage unit 4100 as the broadcasting area to be viewed (that is, the broadcasting area viewed by the user) under the interactive operation of the user. The area name is selected from a plurality of area names defined in the channel allocation information. For example, the area setting unit 4210 displays a list of broadcasting areas (region names) on the touch panel 461 in response to a user input operation, and causes the user to select the area name. Alternatively, the area setting unit 4210 may set the area name defined in the channel allocation information based on the position information acquired from the GPS module 47 under the operation of the user. The list of broadcasting areas (region names) may be hierarchically organized, for example, "Kanto"-> "Tokyo"-> "Tokyo SkyT". The area setting unit 4210 writes the area name selected by the user in the storage unit 4100. In the present disclosure, the area setting unit 4210 is one aspect of the area setting means.

The channel allocation specifying unit 4220 specifies the channel allocation corresponding to the set broadcasting area. The channel allocation specifying unit 4220 can specify the corresponding channel allocation from the channel allocation information, for example. As a result, the information communication terminal device 40 allows the user to select any channel that can be viewed in the set broadcasting area according to the specified channel allocation. In the present disclosure, the channel allocation specifying unit 4220 is one aspect of the channel allocation specifying means.

The channel selection unit 4230 selects one of the channels in the set broadcasting area according to the specified channel allocation under the interactive operation of the user. As an example, when the user receives a first operation (for example, a touch operation) on the touch panel 461 while viewing a certain program content, the channel selection unit 4230 receives a selectable channel number according to the current channel allocation. Alternatively, a group of icons (hereinafter referred to as "channel icons") associated with the code is controlled so as to be displayed on the screen of the touch panel 461, and a second operation (channel switching operation) by the user is accepted. For example, the channel icon may be superimposed on the program content being played and displayed. In this state, when the channel selection unit 4230 receives the second operation (for example, swipe operation) by the user, the channel selection unit 4230 identifies the number of at least one channel corresponding to the second operation, and transmits this to the program data acquisition unit 4240. Notice.

The program data acquisition unit 4240 specifies the URL associated with the channel number selected by the channel selection unit 4230 according to the channel allocation, and corresponds to the channel number via the communication interface unit 4500 based on the specified URL. Send a program data distribution request. In response to this, the distribution operator system 30 starts streaming distribution of program data according to RTSP. The program data streamed and distributed by the distribution company system 30 is program data of program contents according to a program organization table.

Further, the program data acquisition unit 4240 acquires the program data to be stream-distributed from the distribution company system 30 in response to the distribution request of the program data via the communication interface unit 4500. The program data acquisition unit 4240 delivers the program data to the decoding unit 4250 so that the program content based on the acquired program data is displayed on the screen.

In the present disclosure, when the program data acquisition unit 4240 detects a channel switching operation while receiving the program data (first program data) of the current channel, the program data acquisition unit 4240 acquires the first program data. At the same time, program data (second program data) corresponding to at least one channel presumed to be the switching destination can be acquired or prefetched. Such parallel program data acquisition by the program data acquisition unit 4240 may be performed until, for example, the channel switching operation is completed. The number of program data received in parallel can be set to be limited according to, for example, the communication band and the processing capacity of the processor. In the present disclosure, the configuration of the program data acquisition unit 4240 or the communication interface unit 4500 is one aspect of the program data acquisition means.

The decoding unit 4250 decodes the program data, thereby generating video data for displaying the video related to the program content on the touch panel 461, and also generating audio data synchronized with the video. When the decoding unit 4250 receives a plurality of program data in parallel, the decoding unit 4250 decodes each of the plurality of program data and generates video data. When the program data distributed from the distributor system 30 is scrambled, the decoding unit 4250 descrambles it. The generated video data and audio data are output to the user interface unit 4400 via the I / O control unit 4300.

The I / O control unit 4300 includes, for example, an input control unit 4310 and an output control unit 4320. The input control unit 4310 calculates the position coordinates in the touched screen based on the operation signal detected by the touch sensor of the touch panel 461, and inputs this to the program viewing processing unit 4200. In the program viewing processing unit 4200, for example, the input processing unit (not shown) interprets the user's input operation from the position coordinates in the screen and executes the process according to the input operation. The output control unit 4320 controls the display of the touch panel 461 so that the video of the program content based on the video data output from the decoding unit 4250 is displayed, and outputs the audio synchronized with the video. , Control the speaker 462. In the present disclosure, the output control unit 4320 controlled by the program viewing processing unit 4200 is one aspect of the display control means.

The user interface unit 4400 includes, for example, a touch panel 461 and a speaker 462, and provides a user interface to the user. As described above, the user interface unit 4400 provides the user with a screen displaying various images, images, characters, etc. on the touch panel 461, and detects and accepts the interactive operation by the user by the touch sensor. The user's operation may include, for example, a first operation and a second operation following the first operation. The first operation may be, for example, the first touch operation or tap operation on the screen. The second operation may be, for example, an operation that involves movement in a predetermined direction on the screen (for example, a swipe operation, a flick operation, a scroll operation, or the like). Further, in the one swipe operation, it can be considered that the touch operation on the screen is the first operation and the movement operation in the screen is the second operation. The first operation and the second operation following it may be regarded as a series of operations. For example, when the screen is tapped as the first operation and the swipe operation is performed as the second operation within a predetermined time after the finger is released, it is regarded as a series of operations.

The communication interface unit 4500 includes, for example, a transmission unit 4510 and a reception unit 4520. For example, the transmission unit 4510 converts the distribution request of the program data by the program data acquisition unit 4240 into a predetermined communication data format and transmits it on the communication network 10. The receiving unit 4520 receives the data addressed to itself on the communication network 10, converts the format, and delivers the data to the program viewing processing unit 4200.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a channel switching process in the information communication terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Such processing is realized, for example, by the information communication terminal device 40 executing an IPTV viewing program under the control of a processor and cooperating with various hardware resources.

As shown in the figure, the program viewing processing unit 4200 of the information communication terminal device 40 triggers the channel switching operation in a state where the user can accept the channel switching operation, for example, while the program content is displayed on the screen. It is monitored whether or not there is an operation (first operation) (S601). For example, the user touches the screen as shown in FIG. 7 in a state where the program content corresponding to the currently selected channel number is displayed on the screen of the user interface unit 4400. When the user interface unit 4400 detects, for example, a touch operation by the user, the user interface unit 4400 notifies the program viewing processing unit 4200 via the I / O control unit 4300, whereby the program viewing processing unit 4200 performs the first operation. Recognize that.

When the program viewing processing unit 4200 determines that the first operation by the user has been performed (Yes in S601), for example, a channel icon indicating a selectable channel is displayed on the screen (see FIG. 9), and the program data described later is described. The prefetch process is started (S602). Subsequently, the program viewing processing unit 4200 determines whether or not the second operation has been performed within a predetermined time (S603). The second operation is, for example, a swipe operation following a touch operation. When the program viewing processing unit 4200 determines that the second operation has not been performed within a predetermined time (No in S603), the program viewing processing unit 4200 returns to the processing in S601. For example, if the user does not perform any operation for a certain period of time (for example, 1 second or more) after touching the screen, the program viewing processing unit 4200 determines that the channel switching operation has been cancelled. Then, it returns to the monitoring of the first operation.

On the other hand, when the program viewing processing unit 4200 determines that the second operation has been performed within a predetermined time (Yes in S603), the program viewing processing unit 4200 starts the program data display processing described later in order to continue executing the channel switching processing (Yes). S604).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a program data prefetch process in the information communication terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the process of S602 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the program viewing processing unit 4200 refers to the storage unit 4100 and acquires the set area name (broadcasting area) (S801). Subsequently, the program viewing processing unit 4200 specifies the channel allocation corresponding to the acquired broadcast area (S802). The channel allocation indicates, for example, the allocation of frequency bands (channels) for each broadcasting area in the conventional broadcasting wave.

Next, the program viewing processing unit 4200 controls so that the channel number (channel code) according to the specified channel allocation is displayed on the screen on the user interface unit 4400 (S803). The channel number is displayed on the screen as, for example, a channel icon. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a channel icon in the screen displayed on the user interface unit 4400 of the information communication terminal device 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a plurality of channel icons 901 laid out at the upper part of the screen are displayed superimposed on the program content # 5 of the channel number “5” being reproduced and displayed.

Further, the program viewing processing unit 4200 estimates the channel number of the switching destination based on the current channel number (S804). That is, the program viewing processing unit 4200 refers to the channel allocation and estimates the channel number assigned adjacent to the current channel number as the switching destination channel number. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the program viewing processing unit 4200 estimates the channel numbers “4” and “6” assigned adjacent to the channel number “5” as the channel numbers to be switched.

Subsequently, the program viewing processing unit 4200 identifies the URL associated with the estimated switching destination channel number according to the channel allocation, and transmits a program data distribution request according to the specified URL via the communication interface unit 4500. (S805). In response to this, the distribution server of the distribution company system 30 specified by the URL starts streaming distribution of the program data to the information communication terminal device 40, and the program viewing processing unit 4200 is stream-distributed. Start receiving the coming program data (S806). In this example, the program viewing processing unit 4200 receives and acquires the program data corresponding to each of the channel numbers "4" and "6".

In this way, when the information communication terminal device 40 receives the first operation by the user, the channel number of the switching destination is estimated, and the program data corresponding to the estimated channel number of the switching destination is received in advance. Then, the cache to the storage unit 4100 is started for display. On the other hand, the information communication terminal device 40 displays a channel icon on the screen and accepts an input of a second operation by the user. As a result, the information communication terminal device 40 can display the program data corresponding to the channel number of the switching destination on the screen before the channel switching operation by the user is completed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a program data display process in the information communication terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, the figure is a flowchart showing the details of the process of S604 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the program viewing processing unit 4200 specifies the direction vector of the second operation detected by the user interface unit 4400 (S1001). For example, if the second operation is a swipe operation, the program viewing processing unit 4200 specifies the direction vector based on the start point and the locus point of the swipe operation. The direction vector may depend on a direction parallel to the sequence of channel icons displayed superimposed on the program content. Alternatively, the direction vector may be in two directions, left and right or up and down, with respect to the screen displaying the program content. As another example, the program viewing processing unit 4200 switches the channel number in the horizontal direction (first direction) with respect to the screen displaying the program content, and the program viewing processing unit 4200 switches the channel number in the vertical direction (second direction orthogonal to the first direction). The program content may be controlled to be switched along the time axis according to the EPG information.

When the program viewing processing unit 4200 specifies the direction vector, it specifies one channel number corresponding to the start point side of the direction vector (S1002). For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the user starts a swipe operation from right to left on the screen, the program viewing processing unit 4200 specifies the channel number “6” of the switching destination. The channel number of the switching destination does not have to be fixed at this stage unless the user releases the swipe finger from the screen. This is because the user can switch the direction of the swipe operation, in which case the start point and the direction vector are switched.

Subsequently, the program viewing processing unit 4200 smoothly or continuously switches the screen (transition) from the program content corresponding to the current (before switching) channel number to the program content corresponding to the specified switching destination channel number. Control is performed so as to be displayed in (S1003). That is, the program viewing processing unit 4200 controls so that the first program content is displayed in the first display area on the screen based on the first program data received according to the current channel number. At the same time, control is performed so that the second program content is displayed in the second display area in the screen based on the second program data that has started reception according to the channel number of the switching destination. At this time, the program viewing processing unit 4200 changes the size of the second display area with respect to the first display area, for example, in accordance with the movement of the second operation by the user (that is, the movement of the finger). , The control may be performed so that the second program content is gradually and independently displayed on the screen. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the program viewing processing unit 4200 connects to the currently displayed program content and switches to the program while adjusting to the movement of the second operation by the user. By "sliding in" the content from the edge of the screen, the screen is controlled to be scrolled.

The program viewing processing unit 4200 sets the channel number of the program content to be switched to the current channel number when the second operation by the user is completed (S1004). In addition, the program viewing processing unit 4200 stops distribution request and reception of program data that no longer needs to be received, that is, program data of the channel number before switching and program data of another channel number that was not finally switched. (S1005). As a result, it is possible to avoid receiving unnecessary communication data (packets). In the example shown in FIG. 11, when the user swipes the screen from right to left, the program viewing processing unit 4200 stops receiving the program data of the channel numbers “5” and “4”.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the information communication terminal device 40 receives the first operation for channel switching by the user, estimates at least one channel number to be switched, and is estimated. A distribution request for program data associated with at least one channel number is transmitted to the distribution operator system 30. As a result, the information communication terminal device 40 receives the program data associated with the current channel number and also receives the program data associated with the channel number estimated as the switching destination. Then, the information communication terminal device 40 receives the second operation following the first operation by the user, and receives the program corresponding to the channel number of the switching destination estimated from the program content corresponding to the current (before switching) channel number. Control is performed so that switching to content (transition) is displayed smoothly or continuously. As a result, the information communication terminal device 40 can immediately display the program content of the channel number of the switching destination before the channel switching operation is completed, and can avoid the non-display state of the screen. On the other hand, the user will be able to view the program content of the channel number of the switching destination in advance in addition to the program content currently being viewed by the intuitive operation.

(Modification example)
In the above embodiment, the user operation has been described on the premise of an input operation with one finger, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a multi-input operation with two or more fingers may be used. For example, when the first operation by the user detected by the user interface unit 4400 is a two-finger multi-touch operation on the screen, the channel selection unit 4230 skips the channel number adjacent to the current channel number. Select the channel number as the switching destination channel number. That is, the channel number can be switched by fast-forwarding, such as "1"->"4"->"6" or "9"->"7"->"5". Therefore, the user can quickly reach the desired channel number. The number of skips of a channel is not limited to one skip, and may be determined according to the number of channels and the speed of finger movement. The program data acquisition unit 4240 requests the distribution of the program content according to the link information associated with the channel number of the switching destination selected by the channel selection unit, and is distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request. The reception of the third program data is started. As a result, the program viewing processing unit 4200 controls the program content before switching and the program content at the switching destination to be displayed on the screen of the user interface unit 440 via the I / O control unit 4300.

Each of the above embodiments is an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited only to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various forms as long as it does not deviate from the gist thereof.

For example, in the methods disclosed herein, steps, actions or functions may be performed in parallel or in a different order, as long as the results are not inconsistent. The steps, actions and functions described are provided merely as examples, and some of the steps, actions and functions can be omitted and combined with each other to the extent that they do not deviate from the gist of the invention. It may be one, or other steps, actions or functions may be added.

Further, although various embodiments are disclosed in the present specification, specific features (technical matters) in one embodiment are added to other embodiments, or the other embodiments, while being appropriately improved. It can be replaced with specific features in embodiments, such embodiments are also included in the gist of the invention.

1 ... IPTV service system 1
10 ... Communication network 12 ... IP network 14 ... Mobile communication network 16 ... Gateway 18 ... Dedicated line 20 ... Broadcaster system 30 ... Distributor system 40 ... Information and communication terminal device 41 ... Processor module 42 ... Chipset 43 ... Memory module 44 ... I / O controller 45 ... Peripheral interface 451 ... I / O interface 452 ... Communication interface 46 ... Input / output device 461 ... Touch panel 462 ... Speaker 47 ... GPS module 4100 ... Storage unit 4200 ... Program viewing processing unit 4210 ... Regional setting unit 4220 ... Channel allocation identification unit 4230 ... Channel selection unit 4240 ... Program data acquisition unit 4250 ... Decoder unit 4300 ... I / O control unit 4310 ... Input control unit 4320 ... Output control unit 4400 ... User interface unit 4500 ... Communication interface unit

Claims

An information communication terminal device suitable for an IPTV service that distributes program data from any distribution server via a communication network.
A channel selection method that selects channel numbers according to the channel allocation that defines the channel allocation corresponding to the broadcast area, and
Program data that requests the distribution of program data from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the selected channel number, and acquires the program data distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request. Acquisition method and
A display control means for controlling the display of program content on the screen based on the received program data is provided.
The channel selection means determines the channel number of the first switching destination according to the channel allocation in response to the user's first operation on the screen.
The program data acquisition means acquires the first program data distributed from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the current channel number, while the second operation following the first operation on the screen. In response to the operation, the acquisition of the second program data distributed from the specific distribution server is started according to the link information associated with the determined first switching destination channel number.
The display control means controls so that the first program content based on the first program data and the second program content based on the second program data are displayed on the screen. ,
Information communication terminal device.
The first operation is a touch operation or a tap operation on the screen by the user, and the second operation is an operation accompanied by a movement in a predetermined direction in the screen.
The information communication terminal device according to claim 1.
The second operation is at least one of a swipe operation, a flick operation, and a scroll operation on the screen.
The information communication terminal device according to claim 3.
The display control means controls so that the switching from the first program content to the second program content is smoothly displayed on the screen in response to the movement in the second operation.
The information communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The display control means switches from the first program content to the second program content on the screen by scrolling the screen in the predetermined direction.
The information communication terminal device according to claim 4.
When the first operation is a multi-touch operation on the screen, the channel selection means is different from the channel number of the first switching destination according to the channel allocation in response to the multi-touch operation. Determine the channel number to switch to 2.
The information communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
In response to the second operation following the multi-touch operation on the screen, the acquisition means obtains the third program data according to the link information associated with the determined channel number of the second switching destination. Request distribution, and in response to the request, start acquiring the third program data distributed from the specific distribution server.
Upon receiving the third program data, the display control means displays the first program content based on the first program data and the third program based on the third program data on the screen. Control so that the content is displayed,
The information communication terminal device according to claim 6.
It is a display control method in an information communication terminal device suitable for an IPTV service that distributes program data from any distribution server via a communication network.
Choosing a channel number according to the channel allocation that defines the channel assignment for the broadcast area,
Requesting the distribution of program data from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the selected channel number, and
Acquiring the program data distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request,
Including performing display control so that the program content is displayed on the screen based on the acquired program data.
Selecting the channel number includes determining a first switching destination channel number according to the channel allocation in response to the user's first operation on the screen.
Acquiring the program data acquires the first program data distributed from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the current channel number, while following the first operation on the screen. In response to the operation of 2, the acquisition of the second program data distributed from the specific distribution server is included according to the associated link information corresponding to the determined first switching destination channel.
The display control is controlled so that the first program content based on the first program data and the second program content based on the second program data are displayed on the screen. Including doing,
Display control method.
A computer program for realizing a method of displaying program contents based on program data distributed from any distribution server via a communication network on a computing device.
The method is
Choosing a channel number according to the channel allocation that defines the channel assignment for the broadcast area,
Requesting the distribution of program data from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the selected channel number, and
Acquiring the program data distributed from the specific distribution server in response to the request,
Including performing display control so that the program content is displayed on the screen based on the acquired program data.
Selecting the channel number includes determining a first switching destination channel number according to the channel allocation in response to the user's first operation on the screen.
Acquiring the program data acquires the first program data distributed from a specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the current channel number, while following the first operation on the screen. In response to the operation of 2, the acquisition of the second program data distributed from the specific distribution server according to the link information associated with the determined first switching destination channel number is included.
The display control is controlled so that the first program content based on the first program data and the second program content based on the second program data are displayed on the screen. Including doing,
Computer program.